[Closed] Conquest Madison?? WOW!!

Well, Doug, the aftermarket prices you see on sites such as eBay represent the going rate at that point in time. Some Motor City models sell for well over $1000.00 each along with Elegance models that have recently sold in the seven to eight hundred dollar range. Rare Brooklins command a high price as well. Don't suffer sticker shock at these prices!

Example

I found a 55 Desoto 2 door hardtop in the Conquest 1:43rd scale on eBay for a BIN of 250.00 for a 1:43 scale. I'm curious as to how much they actually sold for new, and does the 250.00 sound about right to you? I know some eBayers put extremely high prices in hopes of catching a few "sleepers or guppies", or is that the going rate for that particular diecast?

Doug, I think that $250 is the going rate for a new Conquest. I'm not 100% sure, though....

Doug, new ones go for $250. Go to: http://store.route66modelcarstore.com/19fihabycos2.html

Thanks, Doug. You just sent me on a fun-filled search for my few DeSotos. (pic)

Here they are, unless I missed one somewhere:

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One of my favorites is the Collector's Classics '56 Adventurer. I also have it in the convertible with Indy 500 markings. CC offered these in several color combos.

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Franklin Mint did this '52 with opening features. It displays better opened because of the shut lines.

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Really special is the Brooklin woody, a really great BRK!

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Don't forget the Vitesse '47, offered in several different versions.

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My first picture also has a Crager '47 coupe and the '56 Indy 500 (sadly missing its hood ornament. That was the last time I used these cars for a demonstration away from home!)

Sorry, but I don't have a '55. Good luck in your search, and enjoy!

$250.00 sounds right!

conquest yes patty, conquest models cost 250 dollars i buy one every two months . these models are very nice but for those who cannot buy them there is neo /american exellence happily for us .

Doug, 1:43's are not sold by the inch. You are talking about white metal handbuilts.

They are produced in low volumes, often 200 or less compared with 1:18 diecasts manufactured in the thousands. The least expensive white metal handbuilts are Brooklins selling new at about $115.

Pics -- Conquest 1955 DeSoto and other handmade DeSotos

The 1955 DeSoto is just the tip of the iceberg for great 1/43 DeSotos available. Below are a few of my favorites:

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Victory Models 1941 DeSoto:
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WMCE 1957 DeSoto:
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1949 DeSotos by Brooklin and Motor City:
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I just paid $250. for a new Bronze/Black one.

I have few handbuilts because of the prices, but this one I had to have. I would rather a well done diecast for under $50., but there is a limited number of them around, and I think I have most of them.

The Buby/CC DeSoto top area is actually more accurate than the Conquest. The Conquest's windsheild is wrapped-around too far, the rear window not wrapped enough, and the roofline is too curved front to back. Still and all, the Conquest is a stunning model. The windsheild sent a "memory red flag" up when I received the model, but the rear window and roof stuff was only apparent after checking sideview photos of the actual car. BTW, the roof of the '55 and '56 seem to be identical.

Doug $250 was the going rate 15 years ago!

by the inch, lol

Well I guess I have learned several things about Conquest, but the biggest is they are not sold by the inch, lol. That statement cracked me up. I guess I didn't know that these were white metal and hand built. Are these that much nicer than a 1:43rd Franklin, or is it simply the metal and process?

CONs are much, much nicer than Franklin Mint 1/43s...

Franklin Mint 1/43s are generally some of the worst rendered 1/43s.

This is an exciting time for 1/43 collectors. When I first started collecting 1/43s at the beginning of the 2000s, there was talk of the 1/43 market dying and several manufacturers had gone out of business. During the past few years, however, several new producers have arrived and several older manufacturers have been revived.

At the lower end of the market, there are some great diecasts that blow away the level of quality and detail of FM. Check out Minichamps, AutoArt, Spark, and IXO.

At the mid-level, there's Brooklin, Neo, and Durham models.

At the higher range, there's Conquest, Minimarque, Western Models, EMC, Ilario, and BBR.

This list was not meant to be exclusive and I'm sure that I missed other great manufacturers. As Dick eluded to above, the prices of these different cars depends upon a number of factors, including level of detail, quality, rarity of the car, and labor used to build the car.